Catherwood LibraryILR School

Xcel Energy, a utility holding company based out of Minneapolis, called upon the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to resolve an on-going Labor dispute as members of the United Security Professionals Local 2 picket at the gates of their Monticello nuclear plant. The picketing began on August 31st after approximately 25 security guards belonging to Local 2 were locked out and replaced following the expiration of their contracts. Xcel Energy does not directly hire their security guards. Instead they outsource the task of procuring security to G4S, a large global security firm based in London. Local 2 had been in the midst of negotiating a new contract with G4S, but refused to waiver to G4S’s demand to accept a decrease in health benefits. Xcel is arguing to the NLRB that Local 2 has violated regulations by engaging in secondary picketing, and disrupting business operations. Local 2 has countered that their picket line is well within the rights of the law.